Our ICONic community PAGE 10 Brownsburg schools approve equity definitions Page 3 May 14, 2021 myhcicon.com Danville Town Council approves housing project rezone, road closure and engineering study Page 4 IU Health West Hospital’s Iconic Athlete of the week Danville senior Peyton Jones Page 23 CONSTRUCTION ZONE Insert inside What road projects are on the horizon for Brownsburg, Danville and Hendricks County? Page 8 Unmatched orthopedic care takes a strong team. Get started with our orthopedics and sports medicine Orthopedics Team team today at hendricks.org/ortho. The 63rd Safe Haven Baby Box in the nation was opened April 30 at Brownsburg Fire Territory Fire Station 131. (Photo provided by BFT) May 14, 2021 2 Hendricks County ICON myhcicon.com COMMUNITY Larrison Want to Advertise? Contracting Hendricks County ICON on the reaches a vast segment of Danville of our community. For information about • Room Additions WEB reaching our readers, Let us create • Kitchens • Baths L call Rick Myers at (317) a new look in • Vinyl Siding • Decks Presented 451-4088 or email him • Replacement Windows at [email protected]. your home. • Roofing • Guttering by: Call ED at 317-718-0630 for complete interior & • Bonded • Licensed exterior remodeling • Insured Stories/News? www.larrisoncontracting.com Brownsburg unveils a Safe Haven Baby Box Have any news tips? Want to submit a calendar event? Have a photograph to share? HIGHER GROUND INDOOR Call Gretchen Becker CLEANING AND LANDSCAPING Brownsburg Fire at (317) 451-4088 or Family owned and operated Territory unveiled the email her at gretchen@ • 55th Safe Haven baby Competitive pricing icontimes.com. • box at Station 131. FREE estimates! Remember, our news deadlines are • (Photo provided by BFT) • Weekly Rates or one time only jobs several days prior to print. Lawn Services: Landscaping, mulching, stone, spring and fall cleanup, etc. The 63rd Safe Haven Baby Box in the na- anonymously drop off babies younger than Let us do the cleaning or yard work tion was opened April 30 at the Brownsburg 30 days old — no questions asked. A product of you can’t or don’t have time for! Fire Territory Fire Station 131, 55 E. Main St., The organization offers a 24-hour crisis Brownsburg. It is the 55th Safe Haven Baby hotline and promotes education of Safe Ha- Call Today! Box in Indiana. ven laws. Rick Myers Publisher Nonprofit Safe Haven Baby Box was “Safe Haven Baby Boxes works hard to 765-366-4981 Brian Kelly founded by firefighter/medic Monica Kelsey ensure that every parent knows all their Chief Executive Officer who was abandoned as an infant. The options including a Safe Haven surrender,” Lyla Turner boxes allow new parents who are unable Kelsey said. Assistant to the Publisher Read more at myhcicon.com/brownsburg- Grow Local Media, LLC Linda Jenks or unwilling to take care of a newborn to ©2021 unveils-a-safe-haven-baby-box Advertising Account All Rights Reserved Representative Established Gretchen Becker April 2008 Content Editor Stephens Park renovation heralded Mark Gasper Digital Sales Coordinator by ribbon-cutting ceremony Zach Ross & Asha Patel Production & Design The Town of Brownsburg’s pickleball community celebrated the long-awaited opening of six new courts at Stephens Park, 5252 E. Main St., 605 Stephen Drive, during a ribbon-cutting Avon, IN 46123 ceremony on May 8. Other new features on the 3.2-acre park include stationary exercise Ph: (317) 451-4088 equipment and a new universal playground. Improvements to the park were funded by a park district bond. SPONSORED The Hendricks County Visitors also will find year-round rest- ICON is published by Grow HC Local Media, LLC. Content rooms and a walking trail along the border published alongside this icon is of the park. Six new pickleball courts, stationary exercise sponsored by one of our valued Read more at myhcicon.com/stephens-park- equipment and a new universal playground are part advertisers. Sponsored content is produced renovation-unveiled-in-ribbon-cutting- of improvements to Stephens Park in Brownsburg. or commissioned by advertisers working ceremony (Photo by Lindsay Doty) in tandem with Grow Local Media, LLC sales representatives. Sponsored content may not reflect the views of The Hendricks County ICON publisher, editorial staff or Don’t miss Hendricks County news graphic design team. The Hendricks County Don’t wait until the next issue of the Hendricks County ICON hits your mailbox to ICON is devoted to clearly differentiating catch up on local happenings in your town. Make sure to visit myhcicon.com and between sponsored content and editorial content. Potential advertisers interested in follow the ICON Facebook page facebook.com/HendricksCountyICON for stories and sponsored content should call (317) 451- photos that feature and affect you and your community. 4088 or email [email protected]. May 14, 2021 Hendricks County ICON 3 COMMUNITY myhcicon.com Brownsburg schools approve equity definitions By Gus Pearcy “In fact, despite the cultural backdraft, which informs this emerging effort to The Brownsburg Community School advance CRT, the reality of the ideas it Board approved a slate of “equity definitions” promotes, as well as the terms associated by a narrow vote of 3-2. Two dissenting board with it, are not in line with the American members — Matt Freije and Tiffany Dearman ideals set forth by its founders, nor the — cited divisiveness of the community genuine pursuit of racial equality.” after several community members spoke Many spoke in favor of the definitions, evenly split for or against the approval and yet few actually spoke in favor of CRT. integrating diversity, equity and inclusion Resident Blaine Thompson questioned templated language in the curriculum. hiring the new diversity and inclusion It was a full house in the F.L. O’Neal coordinator recently approved by the board. Administration Center. During the public Radio personality Rob Kendall, a comment session, more than 20 people Brownsburg resident, emphatically told the spoke mostly about the equity definitions board to pause on approving the definitions and the concern over teaching a theory and seek consensus. called Critical Race Theory. However, school “We are not a racist country,” Kendall board president Eric Hylton said several said. “We are not a racist state. We are not schools have faced a backlash over the a racist town. You can say what you want controversial curriculum, despite declaring about Critical Race Theory is being taught. it is not being taught. This is the catalyst. It has happened all “Critical Race Theory is not currently throughout the country.” being taught in our schools, and there are Chantee Eldridge spoke in favor of the no plans to integrate it into the curriculum,” teaching of diversity and understanding and Hylton said of the Brownsburg Community that we fight for the “more perfect union.” School Corporation. “Notice I didn’t say the perfect union,” The first speaker was a representative of Eldridge told the board. “What we are state Senator John Crane who read a letter, proposing in encouraging the school who was unable to attend the meeting. district is to create an environment where “I have some serious concerns about the inclusive excellence is what we want our official endorsement of such a framework,” children to learn.” Crane’s letter said about CRT in the schools. f Serving rs o Hen ea dr Y ic 7 ks 4 C g o in u t n a t r y b e l e C Es 4 ta 97 blis 9, 1 hed February 1 804 East Main Street • Brownsburg Buy one dozen get 3 FREE Donuts One coupon per customer. Coupon has no value. Expires 05/31/2021. May 14, 2021 4 Hendricks County ICON myhcicon.com COMMUNITY Danville Town Council approves housing project rezone, road closure and engineering study Compiled by Peg McRoy Glover WHAT HAPPENED: Kelly DiBenedetto, executive director of the Danville Chamber WHAT HAPPENED: Scott Lindley The Danville Town Council met May 5. of Commerce, was granted an additional road closure for farmers markets 8 a.m.- from Kickstand Bar & Grill, 81 N. The council meets at 7 p.m. the first and 12 p.m. Saturdays May 8-Sept. 4 on the east side of the Square. Washington St., was given the third Wednesdays of each month at Danville approval for two road closures on Town Hall, 49 N. Wayne St. Meetings can be WHAT IT MEANS: The chamber manages the farmer’s market. This year’s farmers market Washington Street in front of the viewed on the town’s YouTube channel. The has added vendors. Marion Street on the south side of the Square will close, along with restaurant. next scheduled meeting is May 19. Washington Street during market hours. WHAT IT MEANS: The first event is 8 a.m.- WHAT HAPPENED: At a work study WHAT HAPPENED: The council voted to rezone property at 1928 E. 10th St. from 11 p.m. May 22 for a motorcycle benefit ride session, the council discussed residential to a planned unit development. Pyatt Builders is under contract to with 100-200 motorcycles. The second will allowing side-by-side vehicles capable purchase this property from Danville Christian Church and will build a housing be Sept. 4 for a free community event with of cross-country travel to be operated development, The Bevy. bounce houses, kids games, live band and on Danville streets. magicians. Liquor will not be allowed outside the WHAT IT MEANS: This rezoning came with a favorable recommendation from the planning building, and the Kickstand will hire security. WHAT IT MEANS: Drivers must be 18 commission. The Bevy will be divided into 66 lots on 20 acres. Houses will cost $225,000- years old and have a valid driver’s license.